Mop device having an integral flexible support and means for detachably coupling a sponge to said support



March 17, 1959 J. F. KOHLWEY ETAL 2,877,478 MOP DEVICE HAVING ANINTEGRAL FLEXIBLE SUPPORT AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY COUPLING A SPONGE TOSAID SUPPORT Filed April 2, 19 56 INVENTORS BY WM/6% ATTORNEY UnitedStates MOP DEVICE HAVING AN INTEGRAL FLEXIBLE SUPPORT AND MEANS FORDETACHABLY COU- PLING A SPONGE T SAID SUPPORT Johann F. Kohlwey, Velp,and Manfred Klafter, Utrecht, Netherlands, assignors to American EnlxaCorporation, Enka, N. C., a corporation of Delaware Application April 2,1956, Serial No. 575,634 Claims priority, application Netherlands April20, 1955 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-119) This invention relates to the cleaningarts and more particularly to an improved mop of the type in which asponge is afiixed articulated support in order that the sponge may bewrung out during use.

It is known to provide mops in which the scrubbing makes the replacementof the sponge a diflicult and unpleasant operation.

easy to manufacture and fully satisfactory in all phases of use.

illustration; and

Figure 2 is a view in section taken along the line of 22 of Figure 1.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, the mop consistsessentially of five parts: a sponge backing plates, 11 and 12 therefor;a support 13 and a handle 14. The sponge 10 is an ordinary cellulosicone of the type now used for mops. The present invention is concernedwith the mop assembly and the sponge support rather than with the spongeitself.

The sponge 10 is provided with backing plates 11 and 12 of uniformthickness and which cover both ends of the sponge, leaving a smallintermediate zone where the Each piece of backing plates 11 and 12 isprovided with four integral, upstanding studs 16, the shape of which isapparent from Figure 2. The backing plates 11 and made of a suitableelastic material. The studs 16 are hollow and are provided with radiallyenlarged ends at 17 so that they may be pushed through holes cut in thesupport 13 ultimately to assume the projected position shown in thedrawings. Note that at eight places, the support 13 is provided withapertures at 18. These are generally frustro-conical in shape, apex endup. Thus, as each stud 16 is pushed through the respective aperture at.18, its end 17 is gradually con pressed until it ultimately emergesfrom the apex end of the hole. Once free of the defining walls of theaperture at 18, the resilient end 17 expands again to a lockingposition. To remove the sponge, the ends 17 require to through theapertures at the use of the studs 16, 11 and 12 can be firmly, butnevertheless detachably, connected to the mop support 13.

The mop backing 13 is one solid piece of flexible, resilient, polyamide,elastic material, prepared by injection molding. The apertures 18already described are molded in the backing and, in addition to that,they are molded in two grooves 19 and 20 on opposite sides of a ferrule-12. and the studs 16 are 13 being thinner at the areas of these groovesthan elsewhere, the grooves become lines of articulation parallel to thehandle whereby the exposed face of the sponge 10 underlying the backingplate 11 can be bent into face engagement with the corresponding faceunderlying the backing plate 12. The mop support 13 is so stilt thatarticulation is not possible except in the grooved areas and, further toenhance this stilfness, there are provided generally It has been foundthat if a polyamide starting material is used in the manufacture of thesupport 13 the thick ness of material at the bottom of the groovesshould be Attention is directed to the fact that the sponge it) of thepresent invention is not bent in one point through 180, but rather aportion underlying the groove 19 is bent and a portion underlying thegroove 20 is likewise bent 90. In this way, the total bend to which anypart of the sponge is subjected is somewhat reduced and its wearingqualities are enhanced.

Attention is directed to the fact that the support 13 is not of uniformthickness even in the areas overlying the backing plates ill and 12.Notice that the backing is thicker in the vicinity of the supportingbody than portions. This is for improved rigidity of the support duringmopping operations, While at the same time, permitting localizedflexibility for wringing out.

What is claimed is:

tions of said support to hold the sponge in position, said articulationfor squeezing the supported sponge and reinforcing zones of increasedthickness extending along said end portions to stitfen the same and tohold the sponge in mopping position.

Patented ,Mar. 1 v1959.

gamma References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSDavis Ian. 8, 1935 4 '"Bates Nov. 12,1940 Vidal Aug. 11, 1953 Vo'sbikianet a1 -QMay 1'8, I954 Ours Apr. 19, 1955

